Esther1
New American Standard
1Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Cush over 127 provinces,
2in those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in Susa,
3in the third year of his reign he held a banquet for all his officials and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the officials of his provinces, in his presence.
4At that time he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.
5When these days were finished, the king held a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the courtyard of the garden of the king’s palace.
6There were curtains of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and couches of gold and silver on a mosaic floor of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and mineral stones.
7Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful in proportion to the king’s bounty.
8But the drinking was done according to the royal law; there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household, that he was to do as each person pleased.
9Queen Vashti also held a banquet for the women in the palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was cheerful with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,
11to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal turban in order to display her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful.
12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s order delivered by the eunuchs. So the king became very angry, and his wrath burned within him.
13Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times—for it was the custom of the king to speak this way before all who knew Persian law and justice
14and were close to him, namely, Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom—
15“According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, since she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?”
16And in the presence of the king and the other officials, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
17For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women so as to make their own husbands despicable in their sight, when they say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded that Queen Vashti be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’
18And this day the wives of the officials of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will talk about it to all the king’s officials, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger.
19If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she.
20When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout his kingdom, great as it is, then all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.”
21Now this word pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan proposed.
22So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man was to be the ruler in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Esther 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The royal feast of Ahasuerus. (1–9). Vashti's refusal to appear, The king's decree. (10–22).
vv1-9
The pride of Ahasuerus's heart rising with the grandeur of his kingdom, he made an extravagant feast. This was vain glory. Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of wine, with all the noise and tumult that must have attended it. But except grace prevails in the heart, self-exaltation and self-indulgence, in one form or another, will be the ruling principle. Yet none did compel; so that if any drank to excess, it was their own fault. This caution of a heathen prince, even when he would show his generosity, may shame many called Christians, who, under pretence of sending the health round, send sin round, and death with it. There is a woe to them that do so; let them read it, and tremble, Hab 2:15, 16.
vv10-22
Ahasuerus's feast ended in heaviness, by his own folly. Seasons of peculiar festivity often end in vexation. Superiors should be careful not to command what may reasonably be disobeyed. But when wine is in, men's reason departs from them. He that had rule over 127 provinces, had no rule over his own spirit. But whether the passion or the policy of the king was served by this decree, God's providence made way for Esther to the crown, and defeated Haman's wicked project, even before it had entered into his heart, and he arrived at his power. Let us rejoice that the Lord reigns, and will overrule the madness or folly of mankind to promote his own glory, and the safety and happiness of his people.
Key Words
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ: Achashverosh (i.e. Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes, but in this case Xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a Persian king
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
הֹדוּ: Hodu (i.e. Hindustan)
כּוּשׁ: Cush (or Ethiopia), the name of a son of Ham, and of his territory; also of an Israelite
מְדִינָה: properly, a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region
הֵם: they (only used when emphatic)
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
מַלְכוּת: a rule; concretely, a dominion
Cross References
Esther 1Refers to the seven counsellors who stood before the Persian king, aligning with the seven princes here.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the unalterable nature of the laws of the Medes and Persians.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Pronounces a woe upon those who compel or entice others to excessive drinking.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Describes wise men who had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Confirms that royal decrees written in the king's name and sealed cannot be reversed.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Re-emphasizes the empire's vast extent, stretching from India to Ethiopia across many provinces.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the use of gold vessels in royal, wine-fueled feasts of pagan empires.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Mentions those who 'saw the king's face' as a mark of highest royal favor and access.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes Shushan the palace as the prominent royal winter residence for Persian rulers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shares the royal color scheme of blue, white, and fine linen in Shushan.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Refers to the couches or beds used during banquets in the Persian palace.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mentions the royal eunuchs (chamberlains) who served in the king's immediate presence.
Supported by JFB
Parallels a host's heart being 'merry within him' while heavily intoxicated with wine.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illustrates how man devises his way, but the Lord sovereignly directs his steps.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts the enforced civil subjection of wives here with the godly submission of Christian wives.
Supported by JFB